Revelation 2:9b
Re-evaluation Translation:
(Repeating) 2:9 I know thy doings, and difficulties, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are gathered as opponents.
Bible, KJV Translation:
(Repeating) 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Significant Words and Comments:
Commentary on Revelation 2:9 continued (30 November 2007):
“Blasphemy,” from blasphemia [G0988], means “railing, reviling, slander, detraction, speech injurious to another’s good name,” especially “impious and reproachful speech injurious to” the name of Yehuveh. In Hebrew, five words are translated blaspheme [Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary entries H1228, H1442, H2778, H5006/H5007, H5334].
Obviously, there are several ways men blaspheme Yehuveh. Ezekiel 20:27 [H1442] presents the most appropriate commentary on this word in Revelation 2:9: “Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith Yehuveh Elohim; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed Me, in that they have committed a trespass against Me.”
The Nation of Israel now occuping Palestine, whom most assume to be the true descendents of Judah, have exceedingly disregarded and disobeyed Yehuveh’s instructions. Ezekiel 5-9 clearly state that they will be removed from the land for these abominations. Samuel warned ancient Israel, “If ye will not obey the voice of Yehuveh, but rebel against the commandment of Yehuveh, then shall the hand of Yehuveh be against you, as it was against your fathers.” 1 Samuel 12:15.
The existing nation of Israel blasphemes Yehuveh in another, more powerful way, by retaining the continual week of the Gregorian time-keeping system and exalting its Saturday Sabbath rather than the astronomically-marked Sabbaths of Yehuveh’s creation appointment. The “seven heads” with names “of blasphemy,” describe the named days of this rebel time-system. With all their other openly rebellious attitudes toward Yehuveh’s instruction, this time-keeping blasphemy marks them as “not My people.” Revelation 13:1 [note the additional references to blasphemy in Revelation: 13:5-6; 16:9, 11, 21; 17:3]; Hosea 1:9-10.
“Them which say they are Jews, and are not” aptly describes the present nation of Israel which totally disregards Yehuveh’s instructions. There is considerable information on the internet to affirm Yehuveh's assessment. Consider the article "Publications showing the Jews to be Khazars and Not Israelites," www.biblebelievers.org.au/jews.htm.
“But are the synagogue of satan,” is a powerful indictment of the present nation of Israel. Synagogue is from sunagoge [G4864], meaning “a bringing together, gathering, contracting, assembling together;” correlating to the Hebrew entry H6951 used in Psalms 26:5 and Proverbs 21:16, “I have hated the congregation of evildoers; and will not sit with the wicked.” “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”
In Torah satan, an opponent or adversary, is never used as a name for a single being, though the K.J.V. translated it as such. This phrase is simply stating that the presently assumed Jewish nation, while claiming to be Yehuveh’s chosen people, firmly gather to oppose Him in every way! Yehuveh is keenly aware of their attitudes and actions: “I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are a gathering of adversaries.”
Gael Bataman
Originally Written: 30 November 2007
Latest Update: 11 June 2011
Return to Zadok Home Page Continue . . . Return One Page Go to Revelation Intro
Go to Historical Calendar Go to Daniel 11-12 Go to Years of Returning (Darius)